The Basics of Flight (Glossary)

 

                                                 Glossary

        Welcome to the glossary! In case you were wondering what some words and abbreviations in the Basics of Flight mean, you can get your definitions here.

        Thrust: Amount of acceleration.

        Flaps: Part of the wing that provides lift and slows down aircraft on descent. 

        Go-Around: Maneuver that incase you are not able to land, you circle the airport and try to land again.

         Flight Level: Another way of saying the altitude.

         Slats: Part of the wing that allow air to move freely around the aircraft. 

         Spoilers:Part of the wing that slows down aircraft

         Reverse thrust: Engine compartment that adds a force to reverse the aircraft.

         Elevators: "Second Pair of Wings" located on the back of the plane.

         Pitch: How many degrees up or down the aircraft moves.

         Trim: Pull nose up and down

         Air Traffic Control: Service of people that control an operated airspace to manage flights.

         Holding Pattern: Pattern used when there is another aircraft on runway.

         Knots: Type of speed measurement. 

         Primary Flight Display(PFD): Display on the left of the captains control panel.

         Multifunctional Flight Display(MFD): Display on the right side of the PFD

         Auto Flight Directory System(AFDS): Also known as autopilot. The AFDS is a system that uses the pilots inputs to get the aircraft from one place to another

         Standard Instrument Departure(SID): Using instruments and ATC to leave the airport.

         Standard Terminal Arrival Route(STAR): Arrival into an airport.

         Instrument Landing System(ILS): System used at night or bad weather operations to land.

         Mode Control Panel(MCP): Panel near the MFD that includes the vertical speed, Indicated airspeed,Altitude and heading.

         Flight Management Computer(FMC): System that calculates the route and autopilot settings.

         Visual Flight Rules(VFR): When the pilots use their visuals to fly from airport to airport.

         Instrument Flight Rules(IFR): When pilots use the instruments in the cockpit along with ATC to fly from airport to airport.

         

        Thank you for reading the Basics of Flight! Make sure to share the Basics of Flight series with your friends and family. See you next time!